This was an intriguing book, with lots of twists and turns. I was surprised by quite a few things that happened.
Steph is recently single and struggling to find her way alone. When she starts to realize someone has been in her home, she is scared and has no idea what is going on. But, the real problem arises in trust - as in who can she trust, and who can't she?
I received an advance copy of this book on exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis:
In desperate need for money, Steph decides to rent out her spare room to Noah, a homeless man who reminds her of her long-lost son. But everyone around her keeps saying she's crazy. Then, strange things start to happen: A brick is thrown through her window, and the bathroom is splattered in red color. Is Noah really that innocent after all?

My thoughts:
This was such an interesting story that kept my attention from start to finish. I knew pretty early what was going on, but that's okay, it was still a good book. The only thing that bothered me was that I found it kind of hard to distinguish between recent events and flashbacks.

Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Whispers And Lies by Joy Fielding

This was my first book by Rona Halsall.

I've not read anything by this author before so want sure what to expect. Overall I thought it was well written and I liked the storyline very much. However, it was very obvious quite early on who the perpetrator was. Despite that I really enjoyed seeing how it unfolded. I'd read another by this author

Firstly, thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

Steph has recently split from her husband and is learning how to function on her own. But then she notices someone has been in her home. Steph doesn’t have any idea who could be trying to scare her…. Could it be her husband? Or someone else?

A great storyline with lots of twists and turns. The characters were well put together and some twists I foresaw and others caught me by surprise. A very intriguing read - I look forward to reading more of the authors work.

This author is one of my favourites and I was so exited to read this and as soon as I started it I knew I was going to have to put life on hold so could dive in and sit and savour every moment. This was an attention grabbing page turning psychological thriller with some twists and turns along the way. This author has the ability to keep the reader guessing until the end and throwing some spanner’s into the works which really make you think. Once I had started reading I couldn’t put it down as wanted to know what happened next. Highly recommend this author. If you like gripping domestic thrillers

3.5 Is It What It Seems Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This is a tale that seems to be a divorce in progress, things being done to manipulate an outcome the woman doesn't want, and how it all ends up. This is how we start with this layered story.

A long-time marriage in disrepair, two grown children, a daughter who is there for the mom, and a son long separated to the point of no contact for years. A husband who wants the home this woman has lived in for 30 years, sold. This is the only place she knows and doesn't want to sell.

When things start to go amiss, it is obvious someone is trying to get her out of the house...is it the soon-to-be-ex or could it be something more...

Enjoyed it an would give the book 3.5 stars. The story has a slow start and it wasn't until I was about 50% through that I actually worried for Steph's safety. I couldn't imagine who could be behind everything. My list of suspects was very long. My immediate thought was Steph's husband. He was constantly angry with her. Then there was Max. The son Steph hasn't seen in twenty some years. He was a troubled child who tormented his sister constantly. There was also Noah and even Cara. I will say that I would have rather had Noah living with me than Cara and her boyfriend. Steph made the right choice there. Cara already had herself moving in before even asking Steph. Noah was the best thing to happen to Steph. They saved each other's life. The story really picked up when Steph ends up in the hospital. As soon as she was released I knew who was behind everything, I just couldn't figure out why, except that this person was obviously CRAZY!!! Loved when everything was finally revealed and the truth finally came out. Why did no one see this coming!!!????

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. It has a slow start but ends with a bang. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had a hard time getting into this one. Steph, the protagonist, won't stand up for herself or make decisions. Her husband, who walked out on her after a lengthy marriage, is still bossing her around. Her son is gone and it wasn't quite clear if he cut off contact with her and is just fine out there on his own or if he went missing or if something tragic happened to him.

Then Steph does dig her feet in and make a decision, letting a client from the homeless shelter where she works move in with her because there's no space for him in the housing project and he reminds her of her son. Her husband is furious. Her adult daughter is furious. And bad things keep happening around the house.... It was hard to care what was going to happen to her when she kept making such poor decisions.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Guest Room. While the first 25-30 percent of the book is very slow, it picks up after that and I couldn't put the book down. Steph finds herself living alone for the first time in over 30 years. While excited to be independent, she begins to have concerns when unusual incidents start happening around her house. She then decides to help a homeless man with whom she had become acquainted. Unfortunately, the strange/scary events around her house keep occurring and she doesn't know who is behind them (her ex husband, someone from work, her new lodger???). Even though I figured out the major twist a bit before it was revealed, I still thoroughly enjoyed (and was satisfied) with the ending. I would definitely recommend The Guest Room to anyone looking for a slightly different but totally gripping thriller/mystery.

I really enjoyed this book , loved all the tension and the characters . It had a great story and I was speed reading to find out who was doing all these things . Loved the ending so much . Definitely a 5 star read from me , I would highly recommend this book

Although the book doesn't seem to start like a Psychological Thriller I did get very invested in Steph’s story. I found her relatable and real.

Its an easy and great read. In the beginning I wasn't sure if I would have marketed as a Psychological Thriller but maybe more a Domestic Thriller.... and then it took a turn... and I just couldn't put it away... absolutely stunning.

Thank you Netgalley and for this arc. The book started out great with an interesting story. As it went on, Steph made some really bad choices and I really disliked her. Definitely not the strong independent female character I enjoy reading about. The ending was a surprise but disappointing because there were no clues leading up to it. The very end felt like the ending of a Lifetime movie. 2.5 rounded up to three stars

Loved, loved, loved it!!! Again, Rona Halsall delivers a gripping, edge of your seat read to keep us guessing right up until the end!!

The storyline follows Steph, a middle aged women with adult children- she's currently going through the first stages of divorce and trying to settle into the unknown life of being single, but she finds it lonely and with mysterious goings on surrounding her house, her husband wanting her out, she's uncomfortable to be home alone to say the least.
That's when she decides to take on a lodger, but will Noah turn out to be who she thinks he is, will her solve her troubles!?!.

I found The Guest Room Gripping, as with all of Rona's books they do not disappoint. The plot twist was goooood, and rounded off nicely with a happy ending!!

5 Stars from me!!

The Guest Room is the latest story by Rona Halsall. Steph's husband recently left her. She wants to keep the house and he wants to sell it. Steph realizes if she takes in a lodger she would be able to take out a loan and pay her husband for his half. Turns out her lodger wasn't quite what she had in mind. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and the why and who was definitely an interesting twist for me. I kept trying to figure out who would be doing the things to Steph because there were quite a few options to choose from but it all made sense at the end. Great, creepy, twisty sense! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this one!

A great and dark thriller. Who's behind all these bad happenings? Yikes! I wasn't into their s story right away, the beginning dragged on with character details rather than starting in the mystery or suspense. But once things finally got going I quite enjoyed it.

Steph is a driven woman. She enjoys her job and she is determined to hold onto her large house now that her husband has left her.
Her days are busy at the homeless assistance organization and her evenings she spends fending off her soon-to-be-ex husbands requests to sell the house and seeing her daughter Bea.

All is fairly well until her house is broken into. A potential client at the shelter assists her with the damages and she, perhaps unwisely, takes him on as a boarder. This move infuriates her family and does not stop the strange goings on.

Who is doing this? Is it a personal attack? What should Steph do?

I really enjoyed this thriller - a quick read with believable and likable characters. I really appreciated that Steph was willing to stand up to her husband and others and that she was depicted as a competent career woman. Too often, domestic thrillers paint the female heroine as helpless and sometimes hapless. I didn't guess the ending and neither will you! If you like thrillers, believable characters and people to root for then this book is for you! #TheGuestRoom #NetGalley #Bookouture

Oooh another creepy and dark thriller from a great author. I loved this story and the twist was great you really threw me there as I was going in a very different direction. I felt so sorry for this mother who had had the rug ripped out from under her and was just doing her best to stay in her home and work at a job she loved whilst her husband is desperate for her to sell the house and move away.

Steph has split up from husband Andy who wants Steph to sell the house but she is refusing to budge.But when strange events start to happen to her Steph thinks who can be responsible from a long line of suspects,so when she meets Noah at the homeless shelter where she works she asks him he wants to be a lodger which would solve her money problems and keep her in the house.But her daughter Bea is not happy about the situation and offers Steph to come and live with her and husband Mark,not knowing who she can trust anymore things go from bad to worse for her.With plenty of twists and turns along the way The Guest Room is a great psychological thriller from Rona Halsall proving yet again that she excels in this genre. A great 5 star read from Rona Halsall yet again.

This story was full of twists and turns and I was hooked from the start. I couldbt put it down til i was at the last page of the story.

The main protagonist was naive but i felt sorry for her nonetheless. Rona knows how to create believable personalities in her characters. Thats for sure.

If you're looking for a fast paced, intriguing story, i recommend this book.

My second book by her and both didnt disappoint

Thank you to netgalley and bookouture for allowing me to read this intriguing book for an honest review

My thoughts and opinions are my own and havent been imfluenced at all by other reviewers